Dental hygiene device

ABSTRACT

A dental hygiene device such as an interdental brush includes a handle, a brush head having bristles extending therefrom, and a neck portion extending between the brush head and the handle. The neck portion of the dental hygiene device is configured to provide two modes of operation, a first cleaning mode of operation wherein the brush head contacts the teeth at a first pressure for a given application pressure, and a second cleaning mode of operation wherein the brush head contacts the teeth at a second pressure, greater than the first pressure, for the same given application pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/103,866, filed May 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,131,768. Theabove referenced application is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

An interdental brush is a dental hygiene device that can brushinterdental spaces in the mouth. Interdental brushes typically include ahandle and a brush head having a plurality of bristles that typicallyare constructed from short fibers. The brush head and bristles are sizedand configured to be insertable into interdental spaces for cleaningthereof.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, an interdental brush includes a handle, a brush headhaving bristles extending therefrom, and a neck portion extendingbetween the brush head and the handle. The neck portion defines alongitudinal axis and has a first bending stiffness when subject toloading in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to theaxis, and a second bending stiffness when subjected to loading in asecond direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis. Thefirst bending stiffness being less than the second bending stiffness.

In other aspects, a neck for a dental hygiene device defines alongitudinal axis and includes a central portion formed of a firstmaterial, and a periphery portion extending along and adjacent to thecentral portion. The periphery portion is formed of a second material.The neck has a first bending stiffness when subject to loading in afirst direction perpendicular to the axis and a second bending stiffnesswhen subject to loading in a second direction perpendicular to the axis.The first bending stiffness is less than the second bending stiffness.

In other aspects, an interdental brush includes a handle and a neckportion extending from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis. Abrush head includes bristles extending from the brush head in aplurality of radial directions, and at least some of the bristles have asubstantially triangular cross section.

In other aspects the invention provides for an interdental brush forcleaning teeth, the interdental brush including a handle, a neck portionextending from the handle, and a brush head coupled to and extendingfrom the neck portion, the brush head including a stem from which aplurality of bristles extend in a diametrically opposed manner. The neckportion being configured to provide two modes of operation, a firstcleaning mode of operation where the brush head contacts the teeth at afirst pressure for a given input pressure, and a second cleaning mode ofoperation where the brush head contacts the teeth at a second pressure,greater than the first pressure, for the same given input pressure.

In other aspects, an interdental brush includes a neck portion extendingfrom the handle and having a first axis and a second axis, the neckportion having a first bending stiffness when subject to loading aboutthe first axis, and a second bending stiffness when subject to loadingabout the second axis, the first bending stiffness being less than thesecond bending stiffness. The interdental brush also includes a brushhead coupled to and extending from the neck portion, the brush headconfigured to be inserted into interdental spaces for cleaning thereof,and a handle, the handle having a first set of grips substantiallyaligned with the first axis of the neck portion and a second set ofgrips substantially aligned with the second axis.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental hygiene device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dental hygiene device of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a front view of the dental hygiene device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view of a bristle of the dental hygiene device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is cross section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view, showing an alternativeconfiguration for a neck portion of the dental hygiene device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a section view taken along 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the neck portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the neck portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative dental hygiene device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternative dental hygienedevice.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dental hygiene device 10 in the formof an interdental brush. The device 10 includes a handle 20, a brushhead 30, and an elongated neck 40 positioned between the handle 20 andthe brush head 30. The neck 40 defines a longitudinal axis 50, and, inthe illustrated construction, the handle 20 and the brush head 30 aresubstantially aligned with the longitudinal axis 50.

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 20 is generallyhourglass-shaped, with bulbous upper and lower portions 60 and 70. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 60 includes two tactilyidentifiable upper grip surfaces 80, and the lower portion 70 alsoincludes two tactily identifiable lower grip surfaces 90. Each gripsurface 80, 90 is substantially elliptical. The grip surfaces 80, 90 arepositioned on opposite sides of the respective upper and lower portions60, 70 of the handle 20. The upper and lower grip surfaces 80 and 90 arealternatingly arranged about the handle 20. In other words, if thehandle 20 is divided into imaginary quadrants, the first and thirdquadrants each have a lower grip surface 90 but not an upper gripsurface 80, and the second and fourth quadrant each have an upper gripsurface 80 but not a lower grip surface 90. In one embodiment, thehandle measures about 5.5 cm in length and about 0.7 cm in diameter.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3, the upper and lower grip surface80 and 90 are “louvered,” including a plurality of fins or ribs orlateral slots 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the fins 100 aresubstantially chevron-shaped with the apex of each chevron pointingtowards the brush head 30. In some embodiments, the fins 100 are evenlyspaced along the handle 20 in a row. Furthermore, the fins 100 can bearranged such that they are angled away from the brush head 30. Leaningthe fins 100 in this way can help keep debris from collecting betweenthe fins 100, and can also improve a user's grip as the user inserts thebrush head 30 into his or her interdental spaces.

The brush head 30 is mounted on the neck 40 by a bristle stem 110. Inthe illustrated construction, the bristle stem 110 comprises intertwinedor braided wires, but can also be formed of a suitable polymeric orother material, or can be integrally formed with the handle 20 and/orneck 40. The bristle stem 110 can be secured in the neck 40 at a desiredheight using adhesive, fasteners, overmolding, insert molding, or anyother suitable method. In the illustrated construction, the brush head30 has a conical, domed, or pyramidal profile, with the apex of thebrush head 30 pointing away from the bristle stem 110. The shape orprofile of the brush head 30 is determined by the length and relativepositioning of the filaments and/or fibers that make up individualbristles 120 of the brush head 30. Thus, for example, in otherconstructions the brush head 30 may be generally cylindrical, mayinclude bristles 120 extending in a diametrically opposed manner fromthe bristle stem 110, may include bristles 120 arranged in a “cross”pattern when viewed along the axis, and may include bristles of varyinglengths, thicknesses, and stiffnesses. Among other things, the size andshape of the bristles 120 and brush head 30 can vary according to thedesired depth of penetration into the interdental spaces.

Referring also to FIG. 4, at least some of the bristles 120 have asubstantially triangular cross section. The triangular cross section ofthe bristles 120 has been found to enhance the cleaning effectiveness ofthe device 10. The cross section of each bristle 120 can be anequilateral, isosceles, or scalene triangle. In the illustratedembodiment, the triangular cross section of each bristle filament 120includes rounded apexes 130. The filament 120 can be made of nylon orother suitable materials.

Referring to FIG. 5, the neck 40 is configured to be more elasticallyflexible in a first direction (e.g., the x-direction in FIG. 5) than itis in a second direction (e.g., the y-direction in FIG. 5). Thisvariable flexibility is obtained by configuring the neck 40 to have afirst bending stiffness when the brush head 30 is subjected to loadingin the x-direction, and a second bending stiffness when the brush head30 is subjected to loading in the y-direction, where the first bendingstiffness is less than the second bending stiffness. For elongatedbeam-like structures such as the neck 40, the bending stiffness in anydirection can be approximated using well known engineering equationsderived from beam theory, and is generally a function of the modulus ofelasticity E of the material(s) and the area moment of inertia I of thecross section. As used herein, the terms “flexible,” “flexibility,” andthe like refer to elastic flexibility whereby when the structure inquestion is deflected away from a static position due to application ofa load and that load is subsequently removed, the structure's inherentelasticity causes it to return more or less to the static positionwithout any appreciable permanent deformation.

The neck 40 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a central portion 150 formedof a first material having a first modulus of elasticity E1 and agenerally rectangular cross section. In some constructions the firstmaterial is a polypropylene and may be the same material from which atleast portions of the handle 20 are formed. In this regard, the centralportion 150 may be integrally molded with certain portions of the handle20. In other constructions, the central portion 150 may be coupled tothe handle 20 using any suitable method. In the illustratedconstruction, the twisted or braided wires forming the bristle stem 110are shown as being insert molded into the central portion 150. Othermaterials also may be used to form the central portion 150 and/or thehandle 20, such as linear low density polyethylene, co-polyesters, orother suitable polymers.

A periphery portion 160 is adjacent to and surrounds the central portion150. The periphery portion 160 is formed of a second material having asecond modulus of elasticity E2 that is less than the modulus ofelasticity E1. In some constructions, the second material is athermoplastic elastomer that is overmolded onto the central portion, andmay be the same material from which the grip surfaces 80, 90 are formed.In this regard, the periphery portion 160 may be overmolded onto thehandle 20 and the central portion 150 during the same operation thatovermolds the grip surfaces 80, 90 onto the handle 20. In theconstruction of FIG. 5, the periphery portion 160 is generallycylindrical with the exception of the central area that is occupied bythe central portion 150. In other constructions, the periphery portion160 may be coupled to the handle 20 and the central portion 150 in othersuitable manners, such as by adhesives, sonic welding, or the like.

By way of example only, using the standard formula for calculating thearea moment of inertia of a rectangular cross section (I=(b*h^3)/12,where b=the base of the rectangle and h=the height of the rectangle),the rectangular cross section of the central portion 150 provides anarea moment of inertia Iy for bending moments about the y axis that isless than the area moment of inertia Ix for bending moments about the xaxis. Similar results can be achieved by using a variety of differentcross sections, such as an oval cross section, a diamond cross section,a properly selected I-beam cross section, a hollow-rectangular or ovalcross section, and substantially any other cross section that results indifferent values for Iy and Ix. Although the periphery portion 160 ofthe construction illustrated in FIG. 5 also contributes to the bendingstiffness of the neck 40, the majority of the overall bending stiffnessof the neck 40 is established by the central portion 150 because of itslarger modulus of elasticity E1. Some constructions of the device 10 mayeliminate the periphery portion 160 in its entirety such that thebending stiffness of the neck 40 is determined solely by the centralportion 150.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate an alternative construction of the neck 40 a thatalso achieves different bending stiffnesses in different directions. Theneck 40 a includes an elongated central portion 150 a and a peripheryportion 160 a extending adjacent to the central portion 150 a. Similarto the neck 40, the central portion 150 a of the neck 40 a is made of afirst material having a modulus of elasticity that is greater than themodulus of elasticity of a second material that forms the peripheryportion 160 a. For example, the central portion 150 a can be made ofpolymeric materials such as polypropylene, while the periphery portion160 a can be made of elastomeric materials such as thermoplasticelastomers. The central portion 150 a can be integrally formed with thehandle 20 or may be coupled to the handle 20 in a suitable manner. Theperiphery portion 160 a can be over molded onto the central portion 150a, or may be attached to the handle 20 and central portion 150 a usingother suitable techniques.

In the neck 40 a of FIGS. 6-9, certain surfaces of the central portion150 a and the periphery portion 160 a are coplanar, such that portionsof the central portion 150 a remain exposed. The periphery portion 160 ahas rounded edges 170, so that the overall cross section of the neck 40a is generally rectangular with rounded corners (see FIG. 7). As shown,the central portion 150 a is sandwiched between two portions of theperiphery portion 160 a, and a substantially ball-shaped tip 146 isformed from the second material. The rounded edges 170, ball-shaped tip146, and softer thermoplastic elastomer materials (if used) can helpprovide a soft feeling to the gum tissue during use.

With reference to FIG. 7, the neck 40 a is more flexible when subjectedto bending in the y-direction than to bending in the x-direction becausethe overall cross section has different area moments of inertia Ix andIy. Unlike the neck portion 40 of FIG. 5, where the difference inbending stiffness is attributable primarily to the structure of thecentral portion 150, the difference in bending stiffness of the neckportion 40 a of FIG. 7 is attributable primarily to the selectivepositioning of the periphery portion 160 a along only two sides of thecentral portion 150 a. Thus, the area moment of inertia Iy of theperiphery portion 160 a is greater than the area moment of inertia Ix ofthe periphery portion 160 a. As shown, the central portion 150 a issquare or nearly square, and therefore has area moments of inertia inabout the x and y axes that are approximately the same. Positioning theperiphery portion 160 a along only two sides of the central portion moresignificantly increases the bending moment Iy of the overall crosssection than the bending moment Ix of the overall cross section. Thebristle stem 110 and brush head 30 (shown in phantom in FIG. 6) arecoupled to and extend from the ball-shaped tip 146.

The configurations of the neck 40 of FIG. 5 and the neck 40 a of FIGS.6-9 are only two examples of possible neck constructions that providethe desired variation in bending stiffnesses in various directions.Other constructions are possible, including constructions configured toprovide different bending stiffnesses in directions that are notnecessarily perpendicular to one another as the x and y directions ofFIGS. 5 and 7 are.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate alternative constructions of the handle 20,which can be used with either of the above-described neck portions 40 or40 a, or any of the various alternative constructions of the neckportions 40 or 40 a described above. In the handle of FIG. 10, the upperand lower grip surfaces 80 and 90 are arranged on a same side of thehandle 20. In other words, if the handle 20 is divided into successiveimaginary quadrants about the axis 50, the first and third quadrantseach have one or both of lower and upper grip surfaces 80, 90, and thesecond and fourth quadrant each have no upper or lower grip surfaces 80,90. The upper and lower grip surfaces 80 and 90 may also be louveredwith a plurality of fins or ribs 100 that are evenly spaced along thehandle. The alternative handle 20 of FIG. 11, includescircumferentially-extending slots 200 extending various lengths aroundthe upper portion 60. The slots 200 can be evenly spaced along thehandle 20 and so dimensioned that as an aggregate, the resulting uppergrip surface 80 is substantially elliptical in the plan view. In thevarious constructions, the neck portion 40 or 40 a is coupled to thehandle 20 by a transition portion 190. For example, the devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 10 include a transition portion 190 in theform of a tapered bellows structure, the device illustrated in FIGS. 6-9includes a transition portion 190 in the form of a tapering radiusstructure, and the device illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a transitionportion 190 with circumferential grooves that are evenly spaced from oneanother.

In each of the various constructions discussed above, the neck 40 or 40a can be oriented relative to the handle 20 such that the upper gripportion 80 is substantially aligned with one of the x-axis and they-axis (see FIGS. 5 and 7) of the neck 40, 40 a. In this way, when auser positions the brush head 30 against his or her gums, the user isable to tactily determine whether the device 10 is oriented in adirection that will present a greater or lesser bending stiffness inresponse to the application of pressure against the user's gums. Thus,using the neck configuration 40 of FIG. 5 as an example, if gentlecleaning is desired, the user can orient the device such that the y-axisis substantially parallel with the gum line. When the brush head 30 ispressed against the gum line in the direction of the x-axis, the neck 40will relatively easily bend about the y-axis, thereby providing a soft,gentle cleaning. In contrast, if a more robust cleaning is desired, theuser can orient the device such that the x-axis is substantiallyparallel with the gum line. When the brush head 30 is pressed againstthe gum line in the direction of the y-axis, the neck 40 will presentgreater resistance to bending, thereby provide a more vigorous,aggressive cleaning. The user can thereafter continue cleaninginterdental spaces, orienting and reorienting the device as desired toprovide a more gentle or more robust cleaning depending upon, forexample, the sensitivity of the gum tissue in various locations of themouth.

What is claimed is:
 1. An interdental brush comprising: a neck portionextending from the handle and having a first axis and a second axis, theneck portion having a first bending stiffness when subject to loadingabout the first axis, and a second bending stiffness when subject toloading about the second axis, the first bending stiffness being lessthan the second bending stiffness; a brush head coupled to and extendingfrom the neck portion, the brush head configured to be inserted intointerdental spaces for cleaning thereof, wherein the brush head includesa plurality of bristles extending from a stem; and a handle, the handlehaving a first distinct set of grips substantially aligned with thefirst axis of the neck portion and a second distinct set of gripssubstantially aligned with the second axis, and wherein at least onebristle extends parallel to the first axis, and wherein at least onebristle extends parallel to the second axis.
 2. The interdental brush ofclaim 1, further comprising a substantially ball-shaped tip portionpositioned at an end of the neck and adjacent to the stem, theball-shaped tip portion configured to provide a soft feeling to tissueadjacent the interdental spaces during use.
 3. The interdental brush ofclaim 1, wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to thesecond axis.
 4. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein the first setof grips is tactilely distinct from the second set of grips.
 5. Theinterdental brush of claim 1, wherein the brush head is substantiallycylindrical in shape.
 6. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein theinterdental brush is operable in a first mode of operation whereinpressing the brush head against the gums in a first direction presents afirst level of resistance, and a second mode of operation whereinpressing the brush head against the gums in a second direction presentsa second level of resistance, greater than the first level ofresistance.
 7. The interdental brush of claim 6, wherein a user gripsthe handle with the first set of grips when using the interdental brushin the first mode of operation, and wherein the user grips the handlewith the second set of grips when using the interdental brush in thesecond mode of operation.